The Lotus Sūtra 1.62

1.62

妙法蓮華經卷第一

Those who, hearing this teaching, Happily praise the buddhas By uttering even a single word Have already paid homage to all buddhas Of the three periods. Such people are even more extraordinary Than the uḍumbara flower. All of you, have no doubts! I, the King of the Dharma, Now proclaim to the great assembly:

I lead and inspire the bodhisattvas

Only with the path of the single vehicle;

I am here without disciples.

O Śāriputra and all of you! The śrāvakas and bodhisattvas should know

That this True Dharma is the hidden essence Of all the buddhas. In the troubled worlds of the five kinds of defilement, Sentient beings are only attached to various desires, And ultimately do not seek the path of the buddhas. In the future the impure will hear The Buddha teach the single vehicle, But they will be confused and will not accept it. They will reject the Dharma And fall into the troubled states of being. To those who are modest and pure, And seek the path of the buddhas, I will praise extensively The path of the single vehicle. O Śāriputra! You should know that the Dharma Of all the buddhas is like this. They teach the Dharma With myriads of koṭis of skillful means, According to the capacities of sentient beings; The inexperienced cannot understand this. You have come to know with certainty the skillful means Of the buddhas, the Teachers of the World, That are expounded in accordance With people’s capacities. All of you, have no further doubts! Let great joy arise in your hearts And know that you will all become buddhas!

A Parable

Thereupon Śāriputra stood up ecstatic and joyful, pressed his palms together and, gazing at the Buddha, the Bhagavat, said: “Now, hearing the words of